The DNCC expects some 15,000 members of the media to attend the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver – with many more providing coverage from afar. Outlets range from national television networks, cable channels and local affiliates to national, regional and community newspapers to news and niche magazines to wire services to talk radio and news radio programs to online news sites and blogs to international media and foreign language outlets to numerous specialty press publications and many, many more. The DNCC prides itself on working with a diverse range of media that will provide broadcast, print and online coverage of the Convention across a broad spectrum.

Blogs 

In 2008, the DNCC has made the commitment to significantly expand Convention access for bloggers interested in covering the Convention.  In line with the DNCC’s goal to engage more people in the 2008 Convention experience than ever before as well as Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean’s 50-State Strategy, the DNCC will both expand the size of the credentialed blogger pool and also offer for the first time a state blogger credentialing program in 2008.  Under this program, the DNCC will offer the opportunity for one blog to be credentialed from each of the 56 states and territories.  The DNCC will also credential national bloggers for the 2008 Convention, to include both political and niche bloggers as well as video bloggers from across the country. Bloggers selected for both the DemConvention State Blogger Corps and the General Blogger Pool will be notified in May.

Click here for more information on the blogger credentialing process.

Networks 

Normally, large events such as the Convention require shared pool coverage by the national television networks.  The pool is responsible to all five of its members (ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, and NBC), who share responsibilities at hundreds of events each year, drawing among themselves to determine who takes the organizational lead at any given event.  At the Convention, each network pool member operates unilateral cameras within the hall and can also choose to take material from the pool cameras as part of its coverage.

Workspace

The DNCC provides a variety of areas for media to work while on site at the Convention. General press filing centers will be provided in both the media pavilion workspace on the Pepsi Center site as well as in the Pepsi Center itself. Some media organizations also choose to secure assigned media workspace within the Pepsi Center site.

Large broadcast media organizations – including not only the network pool members but also public television, major station groups, local all-news cable services and many local television affiliates – typically build anchor studios in skyboxes of the Convention Hall, and many other outlets set up off-site broadcast locations throughout the host city.

Credentials 

Since 1912, the U.S. Congressional Press Galleries have handled the bulk of credentialing for media interested in covering both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Each Gallery is governed by an elected committee of journalists, media peers who apply to Conventions similar criteria used daily in servicing media on Capitol Hill. There is also a DNCC Press Gallery that credentials news organizations that are not handled by any of the U.S. Congressional Galleries, including blogs, community newspapers, publications of membership organizations, quarterlies, college media, production houses, and media service organizations.